Grading is important for High School if a transcript must be created for college entrance. Grading is also important for a student enrolling into the public school system.

Grading tests and assignments is pretty straight forward. But let's say your student is taking art, PE, auto mechanics, then what? The general rule is A for mastery, B for mostly knowledgable, C
for average knowledge, D for a little knowledge and an F for knowing nothing. If you feel your student has an average knowledge of the subject but the student does not want to continue studying,
assign a C. No homeschool student should ever receive a D or F. Take the time to cover the material again or drop the course and try something different.

YOUNGER CHILDREN

Young children can be evaluated through discussion or an oral quzz. If they need more work on writing ideas on paper, ask them questions and have them write the answer. Allow for
silliness and creative thought. My children tend to get sidetracked with the "What Ifs", but it's good for them to think alternatively. If it gets out of hand, just apply a bit of logic.
For example: What do snakes like to eat? Answer: Cotton Candy, ice cream, cake (perhaps your child is looking forward to a Birthday party). Reply: Well, I think a snake would have a hard time finding
all that junk food. Besides, how would it survive? Think of something a snake could find in its habitat, besides we wouldn't want it getting sick on a sugar overload.

The wonderful thing about homeschooling is your child does not have to move on, say in Math, Reading, Writing or Grammar, until it is mastered. Just keep working with the material until an A is
achieved. It is fine if the Reading level is 6th grade and the Writing level is 3rd. Eventually it all evens out.